“Just what I say, Ned,” and Fred Hawksley spoke in a serious tone. “I know there is such a being, because I have seen her—yes, and spoken to her, too.”
A general movement followed this announcement, and it was plain that the subject under discussion possessed no little interest to the hunters. Still, despite Hawksley’s earnestness, they seemed to doubt.
“You have never mentioned this before, Fred. Are you sure there is no mistake?”
“Am I a fool, Ned Campbell?” retorted the young man, coolly. “I tell you that I saw her, only three days ago, not two miles from this very spot. And I spoke to her, too, as I told you before.”
“That’s why you were so urgent for us to encamp here, was it?” laughed Ned. “But never mind—tell us all about it now?”
“Yes—who is she? What did she look like? Did she answer you?” eagerly cried several of the little band.
“Well, I’ll tell you all I know about it, provided you promise not to make fun of me.”
“You’re not at another of your sells, are you, Fred? Honest Injun, now.”
“No, Ned, I mean just what I say.”
“That’s enough. Go on. When you talk like that, we know you’re not fooling.”